MeritBadge.Org about

From MeritBadgeDotOrg

(New page: === Origins === The originator of the MeritBadge web sites is Michael Kauffmann aka The Optimist. These web sites are descended from his first site, the Optimistic Connection, which was o...)

In 1995, Michael Kauffmann ([[User:Optimist|''Optimist'']]) began listing Boy Scout advancement resources on his first [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulletin_board_system Bulletin Board System] (BBS), ''"The Opticon"'', which grew quickly; and, with the advent of the World-Wide Web, the Scouting portion was spun off to become MeritBadge.Com; which, in 2007, evolved into MeritBadge.Org.

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The originator of the MeritBadge web sites is Michael Kauffmann aka The Optimist. These web sites are descended from his first site, the Optimistic Connection, which was online for over two years. The Opticon had such a wide range of topics that it was a little confusing for the users (and sometimes the author).

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===Mission===

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'''Our mission''' is to provide advancement resources for all levels in the Boy Scouts of America.

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As usership increased and the amount of information on the web site grew, it became obvious that a more focused web site was needed and MeritBadge.com, the Merit Badge Research Center, was born.

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'''Our vision''' is to be the best source &mdash;specifically, in the format of a ''wiki''-based website&mdash; of information dedicated to providing requirements, links, resources, and worksheets for youth, [[leaders]], and parents.

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During the summer of 2004, we experimented with the idea of starting up some forums to discuss Scout advancement topics. The forums caught on immediately and we moved them to their own web site -- MeritBadge.net.

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'''Our goal''' is to list every requirement and provide resources for every badge, rank, and award offered by the Boy Scouts of American. Our materials and links are general resources for use by everyone, not just those in a certain area or unit.

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In early 2007, we discussed the idea of creating a Scouting wiki to provide even more resources for Scouting. We placed the new wiki on MeritBadge.org.

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'''MeritBadge.Org does not provide for allow answer keys or cheat sheets or links to sites that provide those materials or other inappropriate materials.''' Please see our ''[[MeritBadgeDotOrg:Criteria for acceptable external links policy|Criteria for acceptable external links policy]]'' for more information.

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=== Graphics ===

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===Printing===

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On each page you will find a link to the left <span class="plainlinks">[http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php?title=MeritBadge.Org_about&printable=yes Printable version]</span>. Just click it for the nicely printable version.

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The logos and graphics developed for this site aren't as good as we'd like. If you're any good at creating graphics and would like to contribute to this site, please send in feedback. Also, if you want to make use of the merit badge and rank advancement graphics on this site, please read the copyright/disclaimer for information about use of copyrighted images and materials.

Just click on any of the {{NUMBEROFFILES}} images, photo, logos, documents and graphics to see the full size version and to download it.

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That's easy... Submit useful web URLs! There are lots of great sites out there on Scout related topics. Provide useful information! Scouter's are the greatest asset to the Scouting movement. You are the one's who end up creating the most useful materials and program support ideas. Share them here. Thanks and enjoy your visit to the Merit Badge Research Center.

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===How You Can Help Yourself And Others?===

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Come join the {{NUMBEROFUSERS}} volunteer users at MeritBadge.Org! This is a Wikipedia. [[Special:Userlogin|Please register and help us]]!

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[[Category:Help|{{PAGENAME}}]] [[Category:Protected|{{PAGENAME}}]]

Revision as of 18:52, January 23, 2013

In 1995, Michael Kauffmann (Optimist) began listing Boy Scout advancement resources on his first Bulletin Board System (BBS), "The Opticon", which grew quickly; and, with the advent of the World-Wide Web, the Scouting portion was spun off to become MeritBadge.Com; which, in 2007, evolved into MeritBadge.Org.

Mission

Our mission is to provide advancement resources for all levels in the Boy Scouts of America.

Our vision is to be the best source —specifically, in the format of a wiki-based website— of information dedicated to providing requirements, links, resources, and worksheets for youth, leaders, and parents.

Our goal is to list every requirement and provide resources for every badge, rank, and award offered by the Boy Scouts of American. Our materials and links are general resources for use by everyone, not just those in a certain area or unit.

MeritBadge.Org does not provide for allow answer keys or cheat sheets or links to sites that provide those materials or other inappropriate materials. Please see our Criteria for acceptable external links policy for more information.

Printing

On each page you will find a link to the left Printable version. Just click it for the nicely printable version.